KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Police Department said a man charged with first-degree murder who led authorities on a day-long manhunt was taken into custody on Tuesday near the Oak Ridge Quarry. The police department said he was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Smokey Mountain Fugitive Task Force.
The police department said authorities began a homicide investigation Monday evening after responding to a report that a man had gravely injured his girlfriend at a home on Mercer Street, in North Knoxville. It said detectives and forensics personnel responded to the home, where they found evidence of a possible deadly assault.
However, KPD said neither the victim nor the suspect were at the scene when officers arrived.
Later, they said they identified the suspect as Juan Carlos Diaz Perez, 20. KPD said he left the home in a white pickup truck, which was later found by the Oak Ridge Police Department at a park in the Oak Ridge area, near Sweet Gum Lane. Inside the pickup truck's bed was a woman's body.
Her body was taken to the regional forensic center, according to authorities. They also said Diaz Perez was not with the truck and police were searching for him Monday evening.
"That's a lot of area to comb through, It's not your normal woods. This is a large park space with multiple greenways that people use. So, it's a large extensive expansive area to search," said Scott Erland, a spokesperson for KPD.
On Tuesday, KPD identified the victim as 18-year-old Suceli Perez. Police said they believe she died from blunt-force trauma. Suceli Perez had a 2-year-old girl, according to her uncle, Jorge Portillo. Police said the child wasn't involved in the incident and that her whereabouts are known.
Portillo said the two were no longer romantically involved, but that the suspect had called the victim Monday and said he was sick. Portillo said he thought it was a trap to get her to come to his house.
The Oak Ridge Police Department, Roane County Sheriff's Office, Blount County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Marshals Service helped find him.
"It's critical that agencies work together because this is being done in service of the community," said M. Quentin Williams, a former FBI agent.
This story will be updated when more information is available.
